Shock-resisting receptacle



0a. 3, 1939. R A BLOOD 2,174,773

SHOCK-RESISTING RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l WW/m W 2 Z9 20 Jz55 1 42 F 'z2 1 ENTOR 5 BY Mw ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1939. R. A. BLOOD 2,174,773

SHOCK-RESISTING RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wag ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SHOCK-RESISTING RECEPTACLE Robert A. Blood, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 17, 1936, Serial No. 111,269

2 Claims This invention relates to electric lamp receptacles, and more particularly to a shock resisting receptacle, the general object of which is to reduce, or prevent, shocks or vibrations of the lamp mounting from being transmitted to the lamp, which may result in damage or destruction to the comparatively sensitive filament of the lamp.

The invention has as an object, a shock resisting lamp receptacle by which the lamp is resiliently supported, and the lamp is movable in all directions, within limits, relative to the fixture in which the receptacle is mounted.

The invention has as a further object, a shock resisting receptacle of particularly economical and efficient construction, and which may be employed in explosion resisting lighting fixtures, the construction being such that the lamp engaging contacts are completely enclosed and separated from'the connecting terminals.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference ishad to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the end of the receptacle in which the base of the lamp is threaded.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the opposite end of the receptacle.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the receptacle and a fitting in which the receptacle is mounted, the view of the receptacle being taken on lines 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical, sectional view of the receptacle taken on lines 4-4, Figure 2. v

Figure 5 is a plan view of the body portion of the receptacle with parts omitted.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the screw shell of the receptacle.

The invention comprises generally, a body formed with an opening in one side thereof and in which is arranged a screw shell to receive the base of the lamp. The outer end of the screw shell is encircled by a helical compression spring which is cooperable with the body and the screw shell to yieldingly maintain the screw shell in .20 axial alinement with the recess. A disk of insulating material is secured to the inner end of the screw shell and a central contact is mounted thereon. A pair of stationary contacts are mounted in the bottom of the recess and ar- 55 ranged to cont ct said c w shel and central contact, and which stationary contacts are electrically connected to terminals carried on the rear outer side of the body.

As here shown, the body I0 is of general circular cross section, and preferably formed of 5 heat resisting, insulating material. The body I0 is formed on its rear side with a rearwardly extending central portion II, from which a plu-. rality of ribs I 2 radiate to form recesses in which the terminals I3I4 are mounted, as hereinafter 10 described. The face side. of the body is formed with a comparatively large central recess IS, in which the screw shell or socket is yieldingly mounted.

As here shown, the main body portion I0 is 15 formed with a radial flange I6 surrounding the margin of the recess I 5. The outer portion of the recess I5 is formed by an annular cap member I! having a complemental flange l8 secured to the fiange It as by tubular rivets l9, and the go cap 11, at its outer end, is provided with an inwardly extending flange 20.

The socket member includes a metallic screw shell 22, to the inner end of which is secured a disk of insulating material 23, and to which is secured the conventional central socket contact 24, as by rivet 25. The screw shell 22 is preferably formed of cast metal, and the inner end is formed with short tongues 26 and an elongated tongue 21. The periphery of the disk 23 is formed 3 with notches complemental in spacing andsize to the tongues 26, 21, and the central contact 24. The tongues 26, 21, are bent or swedged over the top side of the disk 23 to firmly secure the disk to the screw shell, and the elongated tab 21 provides a contacting surface for the screw shell. The shell 22 is provided with a peripheral flange 28 spaced a short distance from the open end of the shell, and a helical compression spring 29 encircles the open end of the shell 22 and is interposed between the flange 20 of the body and flange 28 of the shell.

As here shown, the spring 29 is of conical formation, and the upper coil or turn thereof snugly encircles the screw shell immediately below the flange 28, whereby the screw shell 22 is yieldingly maintained in substantially axial alinement with the recess IS. The diameter of the screw shell 22 and disk 23 is such that there is considerable clearance between the same and the wall of the recess l5. Accordingly, the socket may be readily moved about the horizontal axis in angular relationship to the recess or body Ill.

In order to prevent any appreciable relative rotation between the screw shell 22 and the body 10 while the lamp is being screwed into or out of the screw shell, the disk 23 is provided with a peripheral projection 30 which projects into a vertically extending slot 3| formed in the wall of the recess l5. The screw shell 22 may be provided with one or more spring members 32 arranged in vertically extending recesses 33 formed in the inner surface of the shell, and which spring members 32 coact with the threaded base of the bulb' to prevent the same from becoming loosened or displaced from the socket.

The terminals I3 are electrically connected to the screw shell 22 and central contact 24 respectively, by a pair of resilient contacts 34 mounted in recesses 35 formed in the bottom of the large recess l5. Like ends of the contacts 34 are secured to studs 36 extending through the rear end wall of the body, and to the outer end of which the terminals I3 are secured, as illustrated in Figure 4. The contacts 34 are secured to the inner ends of the studs 36 as by screws 31, and are so formed and arranged as to engage the central contact 24 and the over-turned tab 21 of the screw shell. The contacts 34 are of general U formation and formed of resilient material, whereby the free ends of these contacts remain in engagement with the contact 24, tab 21, during all movements of the-socket. The terminal I4 is provided for a grounding circuit, and consists of a strap extending vertically on the outer wall of the body and having an angular end portion secured to the body by one of the tubular rivets l9. 1

Figure 3 illustrates the receptacle mounted in a conduit fitting of circular formation. and provided with the usual flange 38 extending radially inwardly and formedwith tapped holes to receive the threaded ends of the screws 39 which extend through the bushings I9. If the fitting is intended as an explosion resisting fitting, a suit able gasket is inserted between the flange l of the bodyand the flange 38 of the fitting, in which event the upper chamber 40 of the fitting is partitioned off from the lamp compartment in flame tight relationship thereto. It will be understood that the lead wires for the fittings are brought in through the conduit 4| and attached to the terminals l3, M. The fitting is completed by a glass globe 42, and may be equipped with the usual protective guard.

It will be observed that the disk 23 is of slightly greater diameter than the screw shell 22. That is, the disk 23 is of such diameter as to form a fairly close fit to the inside of the recess IS. The purpose of this construction is to provide a guide to hold the inner end of the screw shell central in the recess l5. However, the clearances between the disk 23 and the recess, and the thickness of the disk are such as to permit angular movement of the screw shell in all directions.

What I claim is:

1. A shock resisting receptacle comprising a body formed with a recess in one side thereof, an annular member secured to the open side of the body about the margin of said recess and being provided at its outer end with an inwardly extending flange, a screw shell mounted in said recess, a helical compression spring encircling the lower end of said screw shell with the outer end of said spring positioned upon said flange, and said spring being cooperable to resiliently support said shell and permit limited axial and tilting movement of the same relative to the body, a disk of insulating material secured to the inner end of said shell and being provided with a central contact, a pair of flexible contacts mounted in the bottom oi! said recess and engaging said screw shell and central contact respectively and being electrically connected to terminals arranged on the rear side of the body.

2. A shock resisting lamp receptacle comprising a cylindrical body formed with an opening in one end thereof and provided with a radial flange about the margin of said opening, an annular cap member secured to said flange and being provided at its outer end with an inwardly extending flange, a lamp socket including a screw shell and a central contact slidably mounted in said opening and having limited axial and tilting movement relative to the body, a helical com-' pression spring mounted in said cap member and being interposed between said inwardly extending flange of the cap and the screw shell 0! the socket, and being cooperable therewith to yieldingly support and maintain said socket in substantially axial alinement with said opening, said socket and body having cooperable means to prevent relative rotation between the same, terminals mounted on the closed end of the body, and means electrically connecting said terminals to said screw shell andcentral contact of the socket respectively.

ROBERT A. BLOOD. 

